Stay True To Jesus

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful: but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. AMEN.  -Romans 1:21-25 (KJV)

This is a pointed Scripture here. What we see is a picture of people who are either backslid Christians, who are professing their own brand of Christianity, or people that want to believe that God doesn't really exist. Both of these will suffer the wrath of God.

Look at verse 21, "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." This verse gives us the notion that the people Paul was writing about were, at one time, believers. But, they didn't glorify God as God. Maybe they never truly or fully gave their lives to Him. In any way, they didn't glorify God, and they were not thankful. Thankfulness is a vital part of our life as a Christian. You got to take time to notice the ways that God works in your life. Note the small things, and be thankful to God for them. I believe that if we fail to live a life of thankfulness, we will miss some of the greatest blessings of life. As a result of their lack of thankfulness, and because they failed to glorify God as God, their heart was darkened and they became vain in their imaginations. A heart that is dark is not the heart of a Christian. Look at verse 22, " Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." They didn't glorify God as God, but they sure glorified themselves. They claimed to be wise, they claimed to know God and His words, but they truly didn't. Paul says they were not wise, but they became fools.

Verse 23 tells us that in their "wisdom" they exchanged the glory of the uncorruptible God for images made by man. They worshiped the creation rather than the Creator. We can sit here and say what bad people they were for doing things like this, yet one fact remains. We are guilty of this same exact thing. How often do we worship the creation rather than God? How often do we put more faith in what God created than in God Himself? As a result of this, verse 24 teaches us that God gave them up to their own lusts and desires. God let them go, to live the life they wanted, instead of living the life God wanted. Verse 25 reveals their sad state. "Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. AMEN." What a sad state for someone to be in . To be a believer at one time, and then fall victim to something like this. It happens to many of us. How many times do we make the truth of God into a lie. There are many false teachers and preachers in our world who constantly turn and twist the Word of God into a lie.

Friends, I challenge you to stay true to the teachings that brought you to Jesus. Get into God's Word, and learn what God says. Then, when you are tempted by false teachings, you'll be able to stay true to faith.